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05/16/2011

Several of you have asked about/commented on the arm-in-arm photo ops from yesterday's National Organization For Marriage/Ruben Diaz rally in the Bronx. So I feel a need to clarify that this actually wasn't just one photo op: This is literally how Brian Brown, Sen. Diaz, and assorted others marched to the rally. For over fourteen city blocks they did this, without break:

Now I should note: There was no opposition presence during the march itself. I was pretty much it, and I wasn't outwardly protesting. So what exactly were these folks standing so strongly and stoically against? Why the need to put up this strong, aligned front? Standing strong against what exactly: A pothole? A stray dog? Perhaps an out of control hot dog cart that freed itself from Yankee stadium, hellbent on destroying the sanctity of anti-gay protest marches? Because in terms of human push back, these kids were certainly spared!

But of course we all know why they did it: It's more of the same victimization strategy. Visually, they wanted the image of a coalition that would fall, if not for the strength they pull from each other. The portrait of an arm-in-arm troop that's being pummeled and pelted from all sides, and so must stay united so as to not falter. A graphic shorthand: One that sidesteps their own divisiveness via an image of contrived solidarity.

Or perhaps, they were just preparing themselves in case they happened upon either a roaming gang of Red Rover players or a casting director for A Chorus Line. What do we know?